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Within most movies and television shows, symbolic gesture or interaction is present but its not as important as it is in Dream Works “Shrek. ” In this amazing children’s comedy, most of those who would watch this film (under the age of 16) would probably miss the symbolism or innuendoes unlike those who have come to a mature adult age and have come to see what is being represented within the film. if you were to watch this movie, you would find four important characters that are key source of the social symbolism. These characters names are Shrek, Fiona, donkey and Lord Farquaad.
Within the main characters story line, Shrek is seen as a mean, terrifying ogre yet he has a hidden persona that is not at first revealed. The society in which he lives in has found him to be someone in which he is not. He has been ostracized and turned away by most because of what he is and what he looks like. Shrek’s persona becomes very visible when the character starts letting a little light under his skin and starts showing the audience that theres a little more to him than just a mean, green, terrifying ogre.
You start to see why the character is acting the way he dose. He has been judged and ridiculed because of the perosona that has been givin to him by the ogres that came before him and because of this, the people ostracize him and attempt to hurt him because of what he is. Just like in actual society, people judge before they even meet. This brings up the issues such as racism, segregation, and ostracism. People have always in some ways come to conclusions of people that are completely wrong and in doing such, brings cultural wars and social conflicts. he judging of individuals or social groups do to color, race or place of birth has been an issue for many years and it is not something that will just come to an end and because of things such as segregation, racism, and ostracism, society today has major issues with such things as depression and suicide. Yet just like in the movie, things can change within society. Just as Shrek met donkey and started on his noble quest, things can change in individuals lives that will change the way society looks at them.
The second character that I am bring to evaluation is Donkey. Donkey is a donkey who in this case can talk and the hardest part is shutting him up. Donkey’s character is kind the kined that I would consider to be what is known as a catalyst or a stabilizer. Some would even say a part of socity that trys to stand out and realizes that your not just what you look like but who you are as an individual. He is the one who, from the beginning, sees no fault or flaw with Shrek, other then he smells like onions.
He is also a connecting force between circumstances and individuals. He may be a joke at most times but in the end he is the one who breaks through the ice and finds a way to make Shrek realize that he has more to look forward to if he would just get past the judgment of others and realize that it is only the opinions of those who really care about each other that matter. In reality, he would be seen as the best friend or the brother.
He is the individual that annoys the crap out of us and yet in the end we cant seem to get by without. The second part of Donkey’s roll that of a connecting force between shrek and Fiona. This is really obvious towards the end of the film when donkey has to help shrek realize that there is something more then just a little spark between the two characters. Yet again I would consider this the annoying friend that if you didn’t have you would probably lose your wallet every time you went out.
Its kind of like that friend you would go to if you were having issues with someone ells in a group. Though in this case it happens to be a love interest but it dose not have to be. It could be something as simple as a confrontation. My third character I would like to address is the character of princess Fiona however I may address it a little more differently than most. Some would look and say something really similar to what I have said about Shrek but I would like to go a different angle.